Making Strides: Beyond the Board

Alright, so imagine you’re sitting there, right? Thinking about chess – yeah, classic chess with knights and bishops and all that. And then bam! Someone takes that idea and twists it into something wild. Like, way out there. Enter “Beyond the Board.” I mean, who saw that coming? Probably not you. Unless you did, and if so, maybe tell me next time so I’m prepared.

Anyway, the folks at Fragile Shapes Studio cooked this up. They’ve got this puzzle thing going, minimalist sorta vibe, and it’s gonna hit Steam soon. But hold on – here’s the kicker – they threw out a demo. Yep, a whole demo just for us to mess around with. You can grab it and dive in if you’re curious. Or not. Your call, honestly.

Right, so get this: you’re not just aimlessly wandering around. You’re a Rook. In a world that’s like chess but also not. It’s a bit trippy, reminding me of Monument Valley or something you’d see in a slightly unsettling dream. Tiles shifting, puzzles cropping up, and you’re trying to figure out what on earth is going on. But it’s cool, I promise.

Oh, and there was this expo – OTK Games Expo or something – where they first showed it off. And everyone kinda went, “Wow, that’s different.” Because you don’t exactly need to be a chess wizard here, just ready to follow wherever your curiosity takes you.

Picture this: a lightning strike in a chess game. Everything goes haywire. Now you’re chasing a fugitive king across bizarre landscapes, dodging boss battles, and navigating what feels like a never-ending labyrinth of confusion. Sounds easy, right? Not. At. All.

And the story? Forget long dialogues. The game just throws you in, lets atmosphere and sound wash over you. It’s like reading between the lines without actually having lines to read. Weird, but it works.

Feeling adventurous yet? Beyond the Board isn’t that far off. Check that Steam demo if you’re itching to explore something a bit offbeat. Even if chess makes you yawn, this might surprise you. Or not. Who knows? Go find out.